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Hypoalbuminemia, influenza vaccination and other factors related to the development of pneumonia acquired outside hospitals in southern J apan: A case–control study
Author(s) -
Washio Masakazu,
Kondo Kyoko,
Fujisawa Nobumitsu,
Harada Eiji,
Tashiro Hideki,
Mizokami Tetsuya,
Nogami Hiroko,
Iwanaga Tomoaki,
Nakanishi Yoichi,
Suzuki Kanzo,
Ohfuji Satoko,
Fukushima Wakaba,
Hirota Yoshio
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.12456
Subject(s) - hypoalbuminemia , medicine , pneumonia , vaccination , risk factor , body mass index , malnutrition , geriatrics , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , immunology , psychiatry
Aim Pneumonia is the third largest cause of death in J apan. Pneumonia continues to be one of the most common causes of morbidity, hospitalization and mortality, especially in the elderly. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the factors related to the development of pneumonia acquired outside hospitals among the J apanese elderly. Methods We carried out a hospital‐based, case–control study. Cases were patients who had been newly diagnosed with pneumonia acquired outside hospitals. For each case, one to three controls were defined as outpatients with other diseases (not pneumonia) at the same hospitals. All participants (i.e. 50 cases and 110 controls) were aged 65 years and older. Results Compared with control participants, hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dL) and low body mass index (<18.0) were more common in pneumonia patients, whereas the proportion of those who could go out by themselves (i.e. self‐support in activities of daily living) and the vaccination rate of seasonal influenza were lower in patients with pneumonia than control participants. Even after controlling for age, sex, hospital and aforementioned four factors, hypoalbuminemia ( OR 9.19, 95% CI 3.70–22.81) increased the risk of pneumonia, whereas seasonal influenza vaccination ( OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16–0.85) reduced the risk. Even after excluding those who lived in a nursing home, hypoalbuminemina ( OR 12.19, 95% CI 4.29–34.63) increased the risk of pneumonia. Conclusions Hypoalbuminemia might be a risk factor for pneumonia among the elderly living in the community. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 223–229.